Best Coding Bootcamps The 2018 Comprehensive Guide

The top 40 coding schools in the world - rankings, reviews, and expert advice

SwitchUp

January 18, 2018

Now is an exciting time to explore a career in tech! The coding skills gap is projected to grow, and job opportunities in this sector are on the rise. Programming jobs also boost high opportunity for growth and attractive earning potential. According to Burning Glass, jobs that require coding pay up to $22,000 per year more than jobs that don’t.

What is a Coding Bootcamp?

Coding bootcamps are immersive training programs that help students from all backgrounds transition into a tech career. Since they started in 2012, these private education courses have been training software engineers with very positive job placement and salary outcomes.

Recently, many new schools and different formats of training have emerged, as well as government and private financial aid programs. So, how can a student choose the perfect bootcamp? To help you begin your search, SwitchUp has compiled the bootcamps that stand out to our community.

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Coding Bootcamp Reviews and 2018 Rankings

Throughout last year, we amassed thousands of alumni reviews and data points to bring you our list of recommendations. We’ve analyzed price, location, job support, alumni reviews, instructor quality, and several other important indicators of quality. We’ve narrowed it down to provide you with a starting point of well-reviewed, fully-vetted bootcamps:

Le Wagon is a very product-driven bootcamp teaching Ruby, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, HTML & CSS, APIs, Github, Heroku (among other things). The program brings coding skill to creative entrepreneurs to make them able to build their own application, find a job in the tech industry (as junior developer or product manager) and collaborate efficiently with their futur dev team. It's also a great tech community for life, with more than 800 talented alumni within 16+ cities worldwide (London, Paris,... (View In-Depth Report)

I attended the 10-week bootcamp by Le Wagon in early 2014. Having no technical background whatsoever, I was struggling to find a good CTO for a new startup I was launching. In just a few weeks, I was able to put together myself a beta version of my product, test it with end-customers and attract talents to join me on my project. Simply put, without Le Wagon, I wouldn't have managed to start my ...

App Academy is an intensive, full-time, web development class in San Francisco and New York City. Over twelve weeks, you'll learn all the skills needed to begin a career as a web developer. Through hands-on projects, we train you to build modern Ruby on Rails and JavaScript web applications. Programming experience isn't required; you will need lots of tenacity and a passion for building cool stuff. App Academy is as low-risk as we can make it. You only pay us if you find a job as a developer... (View In-Depth Report)

This program is absolutely awesome. It's the best and fastest way to learn web development and switch into a career in software development. In 9 weeks, I learned far more than I was able to teach myself over a year. The curriculum, the structure, and the instructional staff make this one of the most effective learning experiences out there. And the fact that you only pay if you find a job as ...

Ironhack is a global tech school with campuses in Miami, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Mexico, and Berlin. We offer courses in Web Development and UX/UI Design. Both of our courses are taught in-person with two different formats: Full-Time and Part-Time. With more than 1,000 graduates, we have an extensive global network of alumni and partner companies. All of our students have access to our Career Services, which prep you for your job search and facilitate interviews in your city's local tech... (View In-Depth Report)

I attended the Ironhack Madrid Bootcamp on Jan 2014. I am a frontend dev, web designer and businessman and wanted to learn to code my own applications, not only design them. Ironhack was definitely the best choice. After the 8 weeks, I could code my own product from scratch, becoming my own developer, emphasizing on best practices and clean code, testing, etc. I recommend this awesome ...

Bloc offers immersive courses available in 12, 18, and 36 week tracks in full-stack, front-end web, iOS, android development and UX design. With a focus on students building actual applications, Bloc has a refreshing online learning approach that doesn't involve a series of video tutorials. 1-1 mentor weekly meetings with an invested mentor, Bloc, allows for accountability in an online learning format. (View In-Depth Report)

Bloc has been very facilitating and all their staff seem really positive and helpful. The mentors are the heart of their program and you'll find a wide range to choose from. My current mentor is awesome. He reviews my code, gives me guidance in where I need to go and focuses on pair coding, which is the best way to quickly learn. On top of this, bloc is fostering a nice community. Aside from ...

Courses at Startup Institute will help you to build the technical skills, culture skills, and network that will launch you into the growing tech community. Our 12-week Part-Time "nights & weekends" courses feature a number of career-changing benefits including access to an extensive network of local startups and innovative companies looking to hire Startup Institute students. In addition to our signature immersive courses, we also offer introductory courses designed for people who need to... (View In-Depth Report)

“To me, Startup Institute was less about learning hard skills than about working on soft skills that are key to thriving in Startups. SI's emphasis on EQ (emotional intelligence) wasn't something I was looking for when I started, but it has had the most impact on my daily life as a product designer at a rapidly growing startup. And I know the entire SI experience played a big part in the job I ...

The Flatiron School offers both part-time and full-time courses in both web and mobile development. The immersive courses are 12 weeks, full-time, and train people for careers in software development. They've also partnered with New York City to launch the NYC Web Development Fellowship and provide free training to underrepresented groups without college degrees in the tech community. (View In-Depth Report)

This was easily the best money I've ever spent. It prepared me for a new career, they helped me find a job, and provided a great supportive thoughtful environment. I tried to learn on my own for years but never really got anywhere. The curriculum they give and camaraderie they foster made it so I could put all of my energy into it and get a lot out of the experience.

The Tech Academy is a code school with campuses in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Their program, the Software Developer Boot Camp, takes 20 to 30 weeks to complete. It can be taken online in full from home, or in-person at one of their campuses. They have students all over the world. Students study the bootcamp at their own speed (self-paced) with Tech Academy Instructors available to help when needed. Instructors will review your code and assist in debugging. The program brings... (View In-Depth Report)

The Tech Academy is a code school with campuses in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Their program, the Software Developer Boot Camp, takes 20 to 30 weeks to complete. It can be taken online in full from home, or in-person at one of their campuses. They have students all over the world. Students study the bootcamp at their own speed (self-paced) with Tech Academy Instructors available ...

Epicodus provides two different four month courses: PHP/Javascript/Drupal and Ruby/Javascript/Rails. Epicodus helps students put together a portfolio of code to share with employers, write resumes and cover letters, and practice interviewing. They also host a job fair and place students in internships with local companies. Prominent employers, to name a few, are livingsocial and cloudability. (View In-Depth Report)

Epicodus has been the most challenging thing I've ever done but also the most rewarding. Michael is an amazing mentor and the program not only teaches you everything you need to know in order to be successful as a Ruby dev but more importantly, it teaches you how to keep learning on your own after graduation. This program is way better than other schools because Michael does not rush over ...

Tech Talent South offers full and part-time programs to give students a foundation in web development. The curriculum includes Ruby on Rails, Domain Modeling, HTTP and "RESTful" Design, HTML/CSS, Javascript and AJAX, and understanding APIs. The full-time course competitively priced under $7000 is a great option for those with a budget. Ambitious entrepreneurs are highly encouraged in this atmosphere. Tech Talent South will help students create a MVP (minimum viable product) to the web, get... (View In-Depth Report)

“What first attracted me to TTS is that is affordable and they offer a part-time program. I wanted to learn to program to gain both technical and management skills. While it was an investment, it has already paid off in helping me get a new job as a Senior eCommerce Manager and helping me make informed business decisions while I work on my own business. Our instructor was a senior level Ruby ...

Makers Academy is a highly selective, 12 week, full-time course (with a 4 week part-time pre-course) in web development based in London. They regularly invite industry experts to give talks to their students. Software development companies have also sent their developers to pair with students. Part of the value of joining Makers Academy is their large network of companies, to name a few, Google, Paypal, and Github. (View In-Depth Report)

For this Makers will give you the perfect learning environment. Everyone at Makers lives and breathes Agile values ! They encourage you to do the right things and offer a vast amount of knowledge and dedication. The coaches arent there cause they cant find a job elsewhere or because they make so much money(unlike with many other educators in the private sector), theyre there cause they love ...

BrainStation offers full-time, 10-week programs in Web Development, User Experience Design & Data Science catered for individuals who are looking for a full career transformation into one of these fields. These programs as the name states are full-time, Monday to Friday 10am-6pm daily for 10 weeks, and created to immerse students into an environment where they will learn everything they need to have a career switch. If you aren't able to commit to a full-time course, BrainStation has a... (View In-Depth Report)

BrainStation offers full-time, 10-week programs in Web Development, User Experience Design & Data Science catered for individuals who are looking for a full career transformation into one of these fields. These programs as the name states are full-time, Monday to Friday 10am-6pm daily for 10 weeks, and created to immerse students into an environment where they will learn everything they need ...

Thinkful is one of the few online bootcamps that have made it onto the list. They combine all of the best educational resources -- great teaching, great curriculum, and engaged learners -- to teach students how to code online. The course curriculum is entirely online and is estimated to take about three months assuming that you can commit to 10 to 15 hours per week in order to complete the coursework. You choose your own pace and can attend office hours, one to one mentorship sessions, as... (View In-Depth Report)

I had a great experience with Thinkful. I took the iOS course (the first time it was offered) and was paired with a spectacular mentor. I spent about 20 hours a week on the curriculum and was able to leverage my mentor for any hangups I had. I learned enough to create an app and release it on the the App Store and also teach myself more advanced iOS concepts. - Julian Moncanda

At HackerYou, we’re on a mission to offer the best learning experiences for people who want to learn coding, design or other digital skills. Our recipe is a combination of hands-on, project based learning from industry-leading professionals. Our courses feature small classes and a 10:1 ratio of students to instructors, hosted at our custom-designed 12,000 square foot learning centre in downtown Toronto. With both full-time and part-time courses, we’re confident that HackerYou can fit into... (View In-Depth Report)

At HackerYou, we’re on a mission to offer the best learning experiences for people who want to learn coding, design or other digital skills. Our recipe is a combination of hands-on, project based learning from industry-leading professionals. Our courses feature small classes and a 10:1 ratio of students to instructors, hosted at our custom-designed 12,000 square foot learning centre in ...

Wyncode Academy is a premier technical educator specializing in leading accelerated learning programs covering Full Stack Web Development, User Experience & User Interface Design, Front End Web Development, and Digital Marketing. Wyncode’s full stack web development immersive focuses on JavaScript, HTML, Rails, jQuery, Ruby, CSS, and React.js. Their front end web development program focuses on JavaScript, HTML, jQuery, CSS, and React.js. Wyncode is the first coding school in the nation to be... (View In-Depth Report)

Codesmith is a selective, need-blind 12 week program teaching Software Engineering and Machine Learning with locations at LA, NY and Oxford University. Graduates of the program typically earn between $95k and $120k (average salary $103k), build projects that have been featured at Google I/O earning 20,000+ Github stars and are advised by top engineers from Netflix, Facebook and Google. Graduates are transforming healthcare at Heal and Impact Health, mental health at UCLA, and drone technology... (View In-Depth Report)

Codesmith is a selective, need-blind 12 week program teaching Software Engineering and Machine Learning with locations at LA, NY and Oxford University. Graduates of the program typically earn between $95k and $120k (average salary $103k), build projects that have been featured at Google I/O earning 20,000+ Github stars and are advised by top engineers from Netflix, Facebook and Google. ...

As Seattle's first immersive coding academy, Code Fellows has an advanced curriculum that has been tailored and optimized since 2013, ensuring that students learn the most up-to-date technology and best practices. Students can start with the basics of web development in beginner-level courses or jump into a more advanced program to build on what they already know. Major highlights are guest speakers, 1:1 guidance from instructors and teaching assistants, and professional development training... (View In-Depth Report)

"I spent 6 months researching the various options online and in the Seattle area for boot camp style coding school. Code Fellows emerged as the clear front runner. The faculty and staff are top-notch; folks working in the industry and staying continually updated on current best practices. I was impressed with the content and quality of the curriculum. Not only relevant, but continuously ...

The Software Guild takes driven beginners, or more experienced students passionate about development, and prepares them to compete for jobs as professional developers. They focus on the languages companies want, with real-world curriculum taught by experienced master instructors. Apprentices graduate from The Software Guild with relevant, employable skills. A choice of locations or online programs offer options that are designed to help apprentices succeed. (View In-Depth Report)

“I came into the guild with very basic C# concepts and understanding. I left the guild able to build a fully functional, data base driven web application. Net result, a TON of knowledge. My teacher, Eric Wise, had this magical ability to take concepts and simplify them in terms that anyone can understand. And if it didn’t click the first time he explained it, he found others way to explain it ...

DigitalCrafts is the top-reviewed coding bootcamp in Atlanta and Houston, and is amongst the best-reviewed programming schools in the country. DigitalCrafts offers intensive classroom experiences for full and part-time students, transforming beginners into full stack software developers trained in JavaScript, React, Node.js, Python, and much more. We also offer custom & corporate training solutions for existing teams. DigitalCrafts’ instructors are all professional engineers with real-world... (View In-Depth Report)

DigitalCrafts is the top-reviewed coding bootcamp in Atlanta and Houston, and is amongst the best-reviewed programming schools in the country. DigitalCrafts offers intensive classroom experiences for full and part-time students, transforming beginners into full stack software developers trained in JavaScript, React, Node.js, Python, and much more. We also offer custom & corporate training ...

DevMountain is an industry-leading code and design school nestled in the heart of the intermountain west. Founded by fellow coders, DevMountain's expert faculty love sharing their craft and empowering the next wave of programmers and entrepreneurs. Learn to code in Provo, Salt Lake City, Dallas, and Phoenix. (View In-Depth Report)

Actualize is the part-time bootcamp run by experts in education, software engineering, and the skills for landing a developer job. Its Online Live bootcamp is taken by students all across North America over video conferencing, and is 100% live for both instruction and exercises. Actualize also offers an in-person bootcamp in Chicago, the oldest bootcamp in the Windy City. Its specialized "Job Hacking" curriculum has garnered attention throughout the bootcamp industry. (View In-Depth Report)

After researching different bootcamps I knew I couldn't quit my full time job to focus on a bootcamp. With bills and just my life that is nearly impossible. But the Anyone Can Learn to Code bootcamp worked great with my schedule. I was able to keep my full time job while learning a wide range of tools for a web developer.

Founders and Coders is the first of its kind. Funded by indiegogo, it is UK's first and only free coding academy. They accept students with little or no programming experience and transform them into full-stack web developers. A 16 week program where 8 weeks is spent in an intensive full-stack web-development course and the other 8 weeks students are invited to remain in our space, where they will team up with mentors to work on external, paid projects, under the guidance of a mentor. (View In-Depth Report)

For eight weeks I worked incredibly hard, 80h a week. I learnt so much during this time and enjoyed it so much. The course gave me a highly applicable and practical skill set. At the end of the course Dan, who runs Founders & Coders, found a real project for me to work on. Four months later, I am a full-stack web developer, working on real projects, mentoring and running external workshops. I ...

Tech Elevator is an immersive 14-week coding bootcamp with tracks in Java and .NET. Their mission is to elevate people, companies and communities. Students will learn from instructors who have an average of 20 years of experience working in the field, and will gain an understanding of the foundational computer science concepts and theory necessary for a professional software developer, with special emphasis on practical application, techniques, and tools. Students in both the Java and .NET... (View In-Depth Report)

Tech Elevator is an immersive 14-week coding bootcamp with tracks in Java and .NET. Their mission is to elevate people, companies and communities. Students will learn from instructors who have an average of 20 years of experience working in the field, and will gain an understanding of the foundational computer science concepts and theory necessary for a professional software developer, with ...

Fullstack Academy's Software Engineering Immersive is a 13-week career accelerator, teaching a JavaScript-oriented curriculum, including Node.js, React, PostgreSQL, and Express.js. Graduates have been hired by top tech firms like Google, Facebook, and Amazon, as well as hundreds of tech startups across the country. Campus locations include NYC, Chicago, as well as a synchronous remote/online bootcamp. There is a part-time version of the Immersive in NYC. (View In-Depth Report)

Coder Foundry is a .NET coding bootcamp. Microsoft and .Net is the platform that drives the business technology of the top corporations in the U.S. and is the leading technology used to drive enterprise-scale business tech. They have job placement relationships with hundreds of corporations that hire .Net developers. If you're a recent graduate or IT professional looking to polish your programming skills, they offer a full-time and part-time masters course. (View In-Depth Report)

Coder Foundry has been such a valuable and enjoyable experience learning .NET, C#, MVC, SQL, and more, so far. The instructors are very knowledgeable and helpful in so many ways. There is nothing more valuable than hands-on, workshop style setting classes that incorporate important insight into what companies are looking for when hiring employees. Everyone at Coder Foundry is very helpful, and ...

Located in Hawaii, DevLeague https://www.devleague.com/ is the premier technical boot camp in the Pacific, designed to provide mentorship and advanced technical training to motivated individuals seeking a career path in modern technology. We teach in-demand technical skills such as JavaScript Software Engineer, Cyber Security Professional, Big Data Analyst and Enterprise Software Developer and introduce our graduates introduce our graduates to hiring managers to get their career start in the... (View In-Depth Report)

"I had a lot of fun doing the Dev League Full Course. It was a lot of work but I learned a lot. Prior to coming to Dev League, I had some coding experience (a minor in ICS at UH) and was looking for something that would allow me to get more projects to showcase. I learned a lot about web technologies that I never knew about and never had a chance to learn on my own. The first couple days might ...

We deliver intensive web development training programmes with Javascript. You will learn the skills required to kick-start your career in web and application development. Programmes are extremely practical, hands-on, delivered by industry experts with more than 10 years in large online businesses. You will learn through a series of immersive projects and real-world applications, supported expert talks, mentors, webinars and workshops. With more than 20 years in the online employment sector,... (View In-Depth Report)

We deliver intensive web development training programmes with Javascript. You will learn the skills required to kick-start your career in web and application development. Programmes are extremely practical, hands-on, delivered by industry experts with more than 10 years in large online businesses. You will learn through a series of immersive projects and real-world applications, supported ...

Ubiqum's 5 month intensive bootcamps equip students from all backgrounds with the technical skills and experience they need to be 100% employable in the IT and technology sector. They offer courses in Full Stack Java & Data Analytics with Big Data. Ubiqum is one of the few Code Schools that offers a 6 month guarantee of employment, worth 50% of your course value. If you fit the profile, you'll pay 50% when you start the course and the rest only when you get a job. The Ubiqum experience is... (View In-Depth Report)

Ubiqum's 5 month intensive bootcamps equip students from all backgrounds with the technical skills and experience they need to be 100% employable in the IT and technology sector. They offer courses in Full Stack Java & Data Analytics with Big Data. Ubiqum is one of the few Code Schools that offers a 6 month guarantee of employment, worth 50% of your course value. If you fit the profile, you'll ...

Sabio is one of the oldest and most respected coding bootcamps in the country, having been founded by tech industry innovators, and today taught exclusively by experts from companies like Stack Overflow, Fox, Gamefly, TMZ and UCLA. Unlike other bootcamps, Sabio’s instructors go through an intensive vetting process. This ensures not only a high-level education for our students, but access to a unique real-life perspective that prepares graduates for a more elevated job market. We believe the... (View In-Depth Report)

Sabio is one of the oldest and most respected coding bootcamps in the country, having been founded by tech industry innovators, and today taught exclusively by experts from companies like Stack Overflow, Fox, Gamefly, TMZ and UCLA. Unlike other bootcamps, Sabio’s instructors go through an intensive vetting process. This ensures not only a high-level education for our students, but access to a ...

There are many bootcamps teaching Ruby on Rails, but not that many which focus on Javascript. Hack Reactor is one of them and has the best student reviews on SwitchUp.Org. Almost 30 five-star reviews have solidified them as the best coding bootcamps in the country. (View In-Depth Report)

“What I will say is this: The students and teachers here are the smartest and most productive people I've met in my life so far; everyone here from the staff and teachers to the whiz kid in your class (and trust me, this will almost certainly not be you) will push you to become better every single day. When you think about going home at 11pm, someone else will be busting their ass trying to ...

V School is a coding bootcamp in Salt Lake City, Utah, with online and in-person 12-week programs in JavaScript, jQuery, AngularJS, HTML and CSS. The school’s mission is to improve the human experience by modernizing education, accelerating career readiness, and increasing community engagement. They want to do this through providing platforms, training, and tools to foster innovation and create economic opportunities around the globe. V School reports a current job fulfillment ratio of 100%... (View In-Depth Report)

V School is Human Centered Edtech. A technical school headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Online and across three continents, both part time and full time. Offering FREE student housing, discounted public transit, a laptop rental program, and creative funding options; including a income share agreements that allows students to start paying back tuition only after they get a job are just a ...

The devCodeCamp philosophy is to learn through doing. Students can expect lectures that range from the fundamentals of development to advanced, industry-driven concepts. We start out highly structured, with frequent lectures. The first weeks increase your understanding of core concepts. As the bootcamp progresses, there’s deliberately less lecture and structure and more hands-on project work. We go from giving you answers to teaching you how to solve problems yourself, working in pairs or in... (View In-Depth Report)

The devCodeCamp philosophy is to learn through doing. Students can expect lectures that range from the fundamentals of development to advanced, industry-driven concepts. We start out highly structured, with frequent lectures. The first weeks increase your understanding of core concepts. As the bootcamp progresses, there’s deliberately less lecture and structure and more hands-on project work. ...

LearningFuze is a full-immersion, 12-week web development training program that aims to bridge the gap between the growing demand for capable developers and the vast shortage in supply. The bootcamp focuses on JavaScript and PHP. The focus on LAMP stack is directly tied to the need in the marketplace by employer partners. 95% of graduating students that are engaged in the LearningFuze employment search process are finding employment mostly in the Southern California marketplace. The program... (View In-Depth Report)

LearningFuze is a full-immersion, 12-week web development training program that aims to bridge the gap between the growing demand for capable developers and the vast shortage in supply. The bootcamp focuses on JavaScript and PHP. The focus on LAMP stack is directly tied to the need in the marketplace by employer partners. 95% of graduating students that are engaged in the LearningFuze ...

Become a professional designer or developer with 1-on-1 mentoring from industry professionals, the support of a passionate and engaged student community, and resume advice, placement guidance and interview preparation from trained tech career specialists. We guarantee you’ll get a job you love within 6 months of graduating, or your money back. CareerFoundry offers courses in UX Design, UI Design, Web Development and iOS Development, as well as specialization courses for qualified designers in... (View In-Depth Report)

Become a professional designer or developer with 1-on-1 mentoring from industry professionals, the support of a passionate and engaged student community, and resume advice, placement guidance and interview preparation from trained tech career specialists. We guarantee you’ll get a job you love within 6 months of graduating, or your money back. CareerFoundry offers courses in UX Design, UI ...

Codeworks is the leading immersive course in Europe to become a software engineer, and learn how to build complex apps, with an advanced understanding of JavaScript. We offer a 12-week coding bootcamp in Barcelona, Spain. At the end of the course you will be able to make entire applications, and contribute to coding projects of any size. Whether you want to fund your own startup, or join top companies’ engineering departments, this program gives you the right tools to succeed. (View In-Depth Report)

Codeworks is the leading immersive course in Europe to become a software engineer, and learn how to build complex apps, with an advanced understanding of JavaScript. We offer a 12-week coding bootcamp in Barcelona, Spain. At the end of the course you will be able to make entire applications, and contribute to coding projects of any size. Whether you want to fund your own startup, or join top ...

Grand Circus is a friendly place for entrepreneur inclined students as its facilities is also a coworking place that hosts a networking events on a regular basis. It offers an 8 week intensive Java bootcamp involving classroom exercises and group projects to prepare students. Students will establish a strong understanding of Java and shall be positioned to start as an entry-level Java developer. With connections with Google, Microsoft and Automation Alley, Grand Circus is well versed in... (View In-Depth Report)

"Grand Circus is an opportunity to make things happen. The environment is casual, comfortable and collaborative, and the Grand Circus team is always friendly and helpful. The other students in the program are motivated, intelligent and looking to make a difference in their lives. When it comes to the Job Placement program, it's a supportive and unique opportunity to network with prospective ...

Coding Dojo offers 3 flexible options (Onsite, Hybrid, Online) of comprehensive, full-stack coding education for less than $11,000. Coding Dojo’s unique philosophy focuses on the fundamental building blocks of all languages, empowering students to quickly and easily adopt new knowledge in the future. They are serious about individual attention to students and their specific needs. They even offer a residency program for students who want to further their education be refining their portfolios... (View In-Depth Report)

“I should have invested in a coding bootcamp such as Coding Dojo a long time ago instead of “wasting” money on my traditional education. With that said, before I get criticize for stating the facts for WHY a bootcamp option would have been a preferred choice of education; I would like to state the opportunities that I knew it would offer me: having greater control of my career and the ...

By integrating education and industry, Galvanize puts learning and working side by side. Learn the skills and concepts you need to make an impact on the first day of your new career or improve your skills at your current gig. Whether it’s full-time or part-time courses, or technology and entrepreneurship events, our campuses have the resources you need to #levelup. (View In-Depth Report)

By integrating education and industry, Galvanize puts learning and working side by side. Learn the skills and concepts you need to make an impact on the first day of your new career or improve your skills at your current gig. Whether it’s full-time or part-time courses, or technology and entrepreneurship events, our campuses have the resources you need to #levelup.

Lighthouse Labs will take you from coding hobbyist to professional developer, and be the launchpad for your career. Based out of Canada’s most dynamic tech hubs, you’ll be immersed into full-stack web or iOS development through hands-on experience. With the support of a brilliant team of instructors and mentors who view coding as the ultimate craft, you’ll join the ranks of over 500 developers in the Lighthouse Labs community. Our industry driven curriculum and rigorous education standards... (View In-Depth Report)

Lighthouse Labs is an incredible institution that really facilitated to my learning style (short attention span, need for real life implementation, craving for less theory and more exercises). Being a developer is not just about knowing how to write good code anymore, it's about working well in a team, being able to have competency around a business model of a company and being somebody that ...

With over a hundred graduated developers, Launch Academy has a proven record. They offer a 16 week full stack curriculum with 6 weeks of collaborative online learning. Students, which they call, “launchers,” are engrossed in both individual and group projects. These projects are called, “breakable toys,” which will be included into their portfolio. Career day provides great hiring potential prospects for graduates with their long list of hiring partners; Paypal, Livingsocial, and Kayak to... (View In-Depth Report)

I also was pleased with choosing Launch (and choosing to do a bootcamp in general), because there is so much to learn in coding/web development, that I was having trouble figuring out on my own what to learn. There are so many avenues you could go down, and Launch was helpful in just choosing web development, and giving you a guided curriculum in what was most important to learn in web ...

A Brief History of Coding Bootcamps

A coding bootcamp is a form of vocational training popularized in late 2011 and early 2012. In simple terms, they offer an accelerated, immersive education that turns students into working developers.

Among the first successful programs was Dev Bootcamp, founded when a friend challenged Shereef Bishay to train him as a software engineer in just nine weeks. Bishay accepted the challenge, recruiting his first Dev Bootcamp cohort through a post on Hacker News. Over 90% of the bootcamp's first two graduating classes reportedly landed a full-time job, paying more than $80,000 per year on average.

This early success gave rise to competitors and spin offs, with some alumni going on to found schools of their own. As the educational model spread — and as the media took notice — the notion of an immersive programming education gradually begun to enter the mainstream.

So what does this "immersive" model of education mean, exactly? Starting from day one, students are thrown into the deep end to start swimming in the river of code. For ten hours a day or more, students learn to code, and do this for two to three months until they're deemed proficient for an entry-level developer role. Some bootcamps further supplement hands-on learning with relevant activities such as guest lectures on building real-world technologies and career-building workshops.

Think of graduating from a coding boot camp not as the end, but the beginning of your journey. Learning is lifelong.

The intensity of programming immersion allows students to move up the learning curve at a rate far greater than self-paced leaning, weekly classes, or even a university curriculum would typically allow. Though many schools and universities offer computer science classes, their focus often falls heavily on theory, forgoing real-world practices and industry technologies used on a day-to-day basis. Said one student of his education: "I'm graduating with a computer science degree, but I don't feel like I know how to program."

Traditional classrooms also commonly fail to provide substantial individual attention and mentorship to students. Just last year, Harvard University's introductory computer science course was attended by a record 818 undergraduates, overtaking economics to become the school's most popular course.

The growth of the bootcamp industry has been immense. Currently, there are well over 100 schools of all shapes and sizes around the world, graduating close to an estimated 10,000 students this year. At the beginning of 2015, bootcamps that offered a full-time program charged a tuition of $9,900 and lasted 10.4 weeks on average.

Since coding boot camps have gained popularity, major criticism has been directed toward the industry. Critics say that the accelerated model produces lower-quality programmers, that instructors are often inexperienced, and that many of these programs are primarily concerned with maximizing profits. While many of these concerns are valid, it's unlikely that bootcamps which have not made an effort to improve their pedagogy will find success beyond their first cohorts in the long run. Programs which have been able to prove their effectiveness through a rigorous curriculum, a strong teaching staff, and high-performing graduates will achieve longevity far more easily. Additionally, a growing number of third-party coding bootcamp reviews and emerging forms of regulation and accreditation can only help to lend transparency to this new industry.

While interested applicants should always do proper research and beware of unethical marketing tactics, the quality of education in the industry remains healthy overall. We have begun to see bootcamps like gSchool announce higher education offerings and traditional schools such as Concordia University begin to develop shorter, career-focused programs. A competitive educational marketplace has begun to yield a diverse spectrum of options that can cater to a wider range of needs, backgrounds, and skill levels.

As former bootcamp students and instructors, we can attest to the effectiveness of a good bootcamp. If you ask us, learning always happens best in an immersive environment, where you can minimize distraction and maximize learning. It's much like immersive education for a foreign language — except here, the language might be Ruby or Python and the study abroad location is your text editor. But, oh, the places you can go with that foundation of knowledge. Think of graduating from a bootcamp not as the end, but the beginning of your journey. Learning is lifelong.

That said, it's important to note that there are BIG differences between bootcamps. Some, unsurprisingly, are much better than others. It's important that you avoid the scams and choose one that is a good fit. Keep reading to find out how.

What to Research When Choosing A Coding Bootcamp

Here on SwitchUp, we now list hundreds of bootcamps in a range of subjects including fullstack web development, front-end development, data science, UX/UI design, and cybersecurity.

Students have more options than ever, and it can be overwhelming to choose a highly-rated program that is a great fit for a student’s career goals. Bootcamps vary drastically by cost, time commitment, and career-growth options, and the decision can be daunting for many prospective students.

At SwitchUp, we’ve found that there are six major factors that can help you decide if a program is the best fit for you. In this section, we’ll dive into the factors that will help you evaluate a bootcamp, and offer tips on how to choose.

There are many differences between boot camps that you should carefully consider. In this section we will present the a few common questions and issues that students face when researching schools. We will give you some pointers on how to address these issues and what to pay attention to.

1. Programming Languages

One of the most common questions we hear from students is “which programming language should I learn?” The correct answer highly depends on each individual’s career goals and learning style.

To tackle this question, we suggest that students start by asking themselves the following:

Where do I see myself after a bootcamp?

What is the hiring landscape in my city or intended city?

There is lots of hype around different languages...Be careful of hype, technology changes fast.

Where do I see myself after a bootcamp?

To get the most out of a bootcamp, you’ll want to have a good understanding of your ideal career after the program.

In general, ignore conversations about which language is “best” and focus on your career goals and the type of company that you want to work for (e.g. web vs mobile, enterprise vs. consumer, startup vs. large corporation). Different types of companies tend to use a certain type of language. For example, academic researchers typically use Python for their simulations and data analysis, whereas an enterprise desktop software company might be using C++.

To start, know that different languages are used for different types of products:

If you want to build web applications, Javascript, Ruby or Python are commonly used by startups.

For iOS mobile applications, you will have to learn Objective-C or Swift.

For Android applications, you will have to learn Java and the Android framework.

For video games, many of today's popular console and PC titles require knowledge of C and C++ to build.

What is the hiring landscape in my intended city?

When many start to think about a career in tech, they generally picture themselves living and working in a big market like San Francisco, New York, or even Los Angeles. But make no mistake: there are many opportunities outside of what are traditionally considered “tech hubs”. The trick is understanding the demand in your city of choice and the type of developers that are getting hired.

At SwitchUp, we suggest that students conduct this research before even applying to a bootcamp. Use resources like Indeed and Monster to search for both job availability and which languages are most in-demand in your chosen area.

To gain complete mastery of one programming language and framework after going to a bootcamp. Focusing on one language first will allow you to gain deep expertise into that technology, and make it easier to pick up additional languages later down the line.

To learn how to "think like a software engineer.” Long-term success in a developer career requires an understanding of software engineering fundamentals, not just the latest framework. Ideally, you want to come out of a bootcamp with basic computer science skills AND mastery of a language. This will ensure that you’re able to keep up with the fast-changing world of computer science.

2. Class Size and Instructor-to-Student Ratio

For many students, the single most important factor in choosing a bootcamp is class size and instructor ratio. That is what you’re paying for! In order to get through the tough software bugs and rugged learning curve, It’s invaluable to have one-to-one time with someone more experienced than you.

To decide the importance of class size in your decision, you’ll want to have a good understanding of your learning style. Smaller class sizes tend to be a better fit for students who prefer a lot of feedback or hands-on instruction. For learners who are very self-directed, a small class size is often less important.

In general, Instructor-student ratios range widely, from 1:4 to 1:25. Be careful when choosing a program with a very few instructors and a lot of students. You won't be getting the attention that you might need.

3. Alumni Feedback and Reviews

The most important step you can take toward discovering your perfect fit is talking to graduated students and reading reviews online.

When you reach out to alumni on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or email, here’s a few questions that you might want to ask:
• What type of job or experiences did you have before your bootcamp?
• Do you think your experience at a bootcamp was valuable?
• What did you like most about your experience, and what would you change?
• What adjectives would you use to describe the culture of your bootcamp?
• What's a typical day like at your bootcamp?
• What was your instructor like?
• What was your curriculum like?
• What is unique or distinguishing about your bootcamp?
• What kind of jobs did you and your classmates get after graduating?

What you’ll learn from an alumni face-to-face will often be more detailed than what you’ll read online. There’s nothing that replaces a coffee meeting or skype call to get the insights on the schools you’re applying to.

To supplement your alumni conversations, we've collected thousands of reviews here on SwitchUp to help inform your decision. Note that the industry is still young, so the ratings on switchup.org must be supplemented by a lot of research and consideration. However, this data will help you get started as you research quality programs.

One final note: Because very few alumni have ever attended more than one bootcamp, there is little baseline for comparison. It's hard for people to judge the quality of a bootcamp. A review can be 5 stars simply because students haven't ever experienced better. That's why it's always important to talk to these students over the phone or in person, so you can gauge their thoughts beyond what's on the page.

4. Your Instructors

One of the most important questions you need to ask any bootcamp is, "Who will the instructor be?" Good instructors make a big difference and they can make or break your experience. With the large turnover in the industry, teachers don’t usually stay at schools very long — since they're coders and prefer to be coding, probably! This can result in lots of new and inexperienced instructors.

Think of an interview with a bootcamp as a two-way street.

The quality of your instructor can make or break the experience. With large turnover in the industry, teachers don’t usually stay at schools very long — oftentimes they are experienced coders and prefer to be coding! This can result in a lot of new and inexperienced instructors.

Think of an interview with a bootcamp as a two-way street.

It’s crucial for you to assess whether your instructors have teaching experience. One of the biggest complaints in the industry, after all, is that teachers just don’t have the right experience. We've all heard of nightmares where the instructors at a bootcamp have never taught a class before. This is more common than you might think, even at "reputable" bootcamps.

It's definitely worth it to set up a call with your potential instructor before you commit. Think of an interview with a bootcamp as a two-way street: They're assessing whether you are a good fit, and you should not be afraid to assess them and ask for more information.

Look for passionate teachers and good communicators. Ask yourself:

Do you feel comfortable speaking to them?

Do they seem confident in what they're saying?

Do past students think the teacher was able to explain programming concepts in a simple and clear manner?

Communication is paramount for a good teacher, and those skills can be rare in the coding industry. The best instructors are both established software engineers AND effective, passionate instructors.

5. Career Potential After A Bootcamp (Your Return on Investment)

Bootcamp quality varies widely. Fortunately the bootcamp industry is maturing, and more data than ever is available on curriculum quality, instructors, and - most importantly - job outcomes.

What it comes down to at the end of the day is your own financial situation, how much capital you have to invest in your education, your career goals, and the return on investment.

Once you have found a few options with excellent reviews, your next step is to research job outcomes. You’ll want to know:

What percentage of alumni landed a job in their field after a bootcamp?

What is the average starting salary of bootcamp grads?

How long does it take the average alumnus to land a job?

Many bootcamps have started to publish third party outcomes reports as proof that their published statistics are legitimate, and not a marketing ploy.

As you compare schools, we highly suggest that you ask to see an outcomes report that has been published by a third party. This will give you peace of mind that all statistics are completely objective.

A great place to start is by looking for CIRR outcomes data on SwitchUp bootcamp profiles. The Council for Integrity in Results Reporting is a coalition of about 30 schools (and counting!) that aim to improve bootcamp transparency by setting a high, uniform standard for outcomes reporting.

Each report on SwitchUp will show you a complete breakdown of how many alumni are employed in-field, starting salaries, and stats by campus:
Learn more about CIRR and how it can help your bootcamp search.

6. Job Support

Of course, the dream of most bootcamp students is to land a satisfying, lucrative new job in their chosen career. For this reason, career services is an important piece of your bootcamp experience.

Be sure to ask about career services when you talk to alumni. You’ll want to know:

How did the bootcamp help you prepare your resume and portfolio?

Does the bootcamp include any interview prep (such as whiteboard coding interviews)?

Has the bootcamp formed any hiring partnerships with local companies?

Did the alumnus feel prepared when applying for jobs or going to interviews?

Pay attention to how reviewers on SwitchUp talk about job support in their reviews. SwitchUp allows students to rate a program overall, and by curriculum and job support. Be sure to pay attention to the star rating for each category.

Video Guide To Coding Bootcamps

This video guide covers reviews, job placement statistics, and tips for chosing the best coding schools for you!